Skills can be divided into 'hard skills' and 'soft skills'. The 'hard skills' are easier to define and control because they are measurable. With 'soft skills' it is a bit more complicated. But don't be afraid, in this blog article we will delve into the world of 'soft skills' and it will become clear what exactly these are and how we can best mention them on your CV.
What are 'soft skills'?
Soft skills are skills that, unlike hard skills, you can use in any position. They demonstrate your ability to deal with yourself, others and your work. It is not only about good communication skills, but also being able to divide your time well and how motivated you are to do your work.
Soft skills are also called 'people skills' or interpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills are a set of skills that demonstrate the quality of behavior we exhibit when interacting with other people.
As mentioned earlier, soft skills are more difficult to measure than hard skills and therefore more difficult to prove. However, soft skills are often asked for in the vacancy text and that is why you will have to mention them on your CV.
Which soft skills do you put on your resume?
To know which soft skills you should put on your resume, it is important to scan the vacancy text for the so-called keywords. The vacancy text often contains job requirements, where hard skills, soft skills, personal qualities and competencies are requested interchangeably. Make a list of all required soft skills.
Now you compare your own soft skills with those of the organization. Which ones do you have and which ones don't you have? Make a list of the soft skills you possess. Also think about soft skills that have not been specifically requested, but may be relevant to the position. Put that on your list too.
If all goes well, you now have a nice list of your soft skills that match the position you are applying for.
Example:
Suppose you apply for a position as a project manager. The vacancy text lists soft skills such as 'teamwork', 'communication skills', and 'flexibility'. Then you write down these required skills.
Now take a look at your own skills: you are strong in teamwork, have excellent communication skills and you are flexible. You also add 'problem-solving skills' to your list, a skill that is not explicitly requested, but is very relevant for a project manager.
You should then reflect these skills in your CV. Both in a separate section and in your job descriptions.
How do you put soft skills on your resume?
Most applicants tend to put soft skills in the skills section. That is indeed the easiest option, but not the best option for many soft skills. We will explain why this is. Soft skills include skills such as hardworking, accurate, team player, etc. Let's be very honest, everyone thinks this about themselves. And if everyone puts this on their CV, it doesn't really mean anything at all. It is quite subjective. You must provide proof that you actually have these soft skills. For that reason, we share 2 good alternatives below:
Work experience
It is best to put your soft skills under the work experience section. You use bullet points with your previous and current employer(s) to show what you have done. Here you will demonstrate your soft skills through situations and successes. This says much more than just a word in a list of skills. This way you present facts and that is what a potential employer would like to see.
It is important that you use action words at the beginning of your sentence that relate to your soft skill, and that you use numbers and percentages to demonstrate your soft skill.
A good example is to instead of saying that you are a team player, describe the size of the team you worked with, what your role was in this team and what goals you achieved together.
Teamwork: “Coordinated with a team of 5 colleagues to lead a marketing campaign, which resulted in a 20% increase in proteins produced.”
Communication skills: “Developed and presented monthly research update reports to management, which improved internal communication and decision-making.”
Personal profile
Also include a number of soft skills in your personal profile, especially the so-called keywords in the vacancy text. The personal profile is the first thing a potential employer will read; if it immediately contains the required soft skills, he will certainly want to read further.
Which soft skills are most in demand?
There are many soft skills; too many to mention them all, but we will describe the 8 most in-demand soft skills below.
1. Communication
Effective communication is important to build good relationships with colleagues, customers and other organizations. It is an important part of making a team function well. We are not just talking about being able to have a conversation with each other, but also about receiving feedback and responding to it appropriately. So it is not just about talking, but also about listening to others.
Examples of communication skills are: active listening, being non-judgemental, (non) verbal communication, etc.
2. Leadership
In leadership, you are expected to be able to establish a clear vision, communicate about it and make adjustments if necessary. You must be able to include your team in your ideas and achieve the goals together.
You can think of skills such as coaching, strategic thinking, problem-solving ability, etc.
3. Team player
A team player means that you are able to work together with others towards a common goal. It requires communication, consultation, adjustment, collaboration and commitment. Working in a team can increase creativity, because brainstorming sessions can lead to great results.
Skills that belong to a team player are collaboration, mediation, etc.
4. Time management
Time management requires discipline. This includes the skills to organize and plan well, set priorities and indicate your boundaries.
Good time management gives you peace of mind and ensures that you achieve your goals more often because you have organized it well. You could for example indicate that you did multiple projects simultaneously with success.
5. Problem solving
If you have problem-solving skills, you are able to identify problems, examine them from all sides and are not afraid to come up with alternative solutions.
Skills that belong to this soft skill are: critical thinking, analysis, taking initiative, etc.
6. Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions and those of others. This allows you to work well within complex working environments and makes it easy for you to work in a team. You are also able to convey feedback in a good way to your colleagues.
Examples include: empathy, motivation, etc.
7. Creativity
Creativity requires you to think outside the box and come up with ideas that are innovative. This skill involves curiosity and you are not afraid to take a risk.
Skills that come with this include experimenting, brainstorming and thinking power.
8. Professionalism
Professionalism is the behavior and attitude of someone in their workplace. It shows that you stand for your position and organization. Professionalism will ultimately lead to success at work and for yourself.
Skills you can think of are: integrity, responsibility, punctuality, etc.
Closing
Naming the soft skills on your resume is a bit more difficult than the hard skills. It is important to remember that they are difficult to prove and measure, so you will have to describe them using situations.
Article written by Reinier van der Galiën
Website: www.lerensolliciteren.nl/blog
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